Xiaomi Mi Play shows off its beauty in new official photos

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Dec 24, 2018

The Xiaomi Mi Play was announced today as the first of what may be a new series. The phone packs mid-range specs but a design that isn’t found on Xiaomi’s Redmi phones which rule the sub $200 category.

Xiaomi has released a bunch of official live photos that show what the phone really looks like.

If the Mi 8 Lite didn’t already exist, you won’t be wrong if you called the Mi Play the Mi 8 Lite. The Mi Play is covered in Gorilla Glass on both sides with a metal frame in the middle. It is available in three colors – Black, Fantasy Blue, and Twilight Gold. The gold and blue variants have a special finish that gives the phone a shimmering effect when light rays hit the back.

Xiaomi has gone for dual cameras like so many of its phones this year. The cameras are arranged vertically with a LED flash below the setup and a fingerprint scanner sitting in the middle of the phone.

[envira-gallery id=”229201″]

The Mi Play is the first Xiaomi phone with a waterdrop notch but it won’t be the last. The Redmi 7 Pro will have one too. The display has a 19:9 aspect ratio and the resolution is FHD+.

The Mi Play is not only the first Xiaomi phone with a waterdrop notch but it is also the first smartphone in the world to be powered by the spanking new Helio P35. The Helio P35 is a 12nm octa-core chipset with a PowerVR GPU. Xiaomi says it offers better performance than the Snapdragon 625 but what we would really like to see is a comparison against the Snapdragon 632.

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Softbank reveals it may cost up to 100 billion yen to replace Huawei base stations in Japan

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 24, 2018

A recent report from the Japanese media through Reference news network (RNW) disclosed that Softbank Group (SBG), a domestic communications subsidiary of Softbank Group (SBG), was listed on the main board of the Tokyo Stock Exchange on December 19. In a press conference held for the listing, Softbank’s president Miyazaki Miyazaki spoke on a number of issues bordering on the company’s plans. He spoke on the cost of the replacement of the Huawei Base Station technology which would amount up to 100 billion Yen.

The media has been awash with news that the Japanese government plans to remove Huawei-manufactured communication equipment around the country just as the US is doing. But Softbank president thinks that is a costly venture especially considering its wide usage in the country. He, however, stated that that company will henceforth make sure it obeys all the guidelines laid down by the Japanese government. He further stated that the replacement of the Huawei base station technology may cost tens of billions of yen in a year, nevertheless in a severe case, the cost could rise up to 100 billion yen in a year. Softbank’s vice-president, Myagwa also stated in the report that Huawei base stations that is in use in the field of 4G in the country need to be substituted.

Recall that Softbank-owned US carrier Sprint recently merged with T-Mobile but that deal is reportedly hinged on both company’s ditching the use of Huawei’s technology in their home countries.

(source)

Xiaomi’s SWDK Cordless Portable Vacuum Cleaner removes mites for just ¥249 (~$36)

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 24, 2018

Xiaomi‘s Mijia platform has a bunch of vacuum cleaners that can be purchased on its official online store. There is the Mi Robot series which are smart and programmable, there is also the upright traditional type, and last is the cordless handheld portable vacuum cleaners. The SWDK Cordless Portable Vacuum Cleaner belongs to the third category and is a great choice if you are looking for a vacuum cleaner that doesn’t break the bank.

The SWDK Cordless Portable Vacuum Cleaner is practically one of the cheapest vacuum cleaners on the Mijia crowdfunding platform. When it was first announced for crowdfunding, it was priced at ¥299 (~$43). Now that it is out of crowdfunding, the official price is even lesser at ¥249 (~$36).

Just because it is cheap doesn’t mean it skimps on features. The SWDK Cordless Portable Vacuum Cleaner’s main selling point is its mite removal feature. The vacuum cleaner can generate up to 8000 vibrations per minute which allows it to stir up the mites on the surface of the fabric of your furniture and those deep inside the mattress before sucking them up. The vacuum cleaner has a suction power of 12,000pa.

Apart from removing mites and dust which cause allergies, the SWDK Cordless Portable Vacuum Cleaner also sterilizes and kills microbes using UV rays.

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Here’s the $199-flagship killer UMIDIGI F1 first Hands-on (video)

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 24, 2018

UMIDIGI once again stunned us with the launch of the UMIDIGI F1 smartphone which features an FHD+ waterdrop display, Helio P60, 128GB ROM, a big 5,150mAh battery and NFC. Despite the flagship-looking hardware, the UMIDIGI F1 is expected to go on sale at a crazy price tag $199.99 on January 7 next year. Ahead of the official release, the hands-on video of the F1 has been released by UMIDIGI

The hands-on video shows the sleek design of the F1 in all its glory. Thanks to the 6.3-inch FHD+ waterdrop full-screen display, UMIDIGI F1 can deliver an immersive video and gaming experience. The water drop design and small chin enable the screen ratio to be expanded to achieve a 92.7% ratio which is pretty impressive. Also, the smooth running games show that the F1 can easily handle high-end games like PUBG. This is made possible by the MediaTek Helio P60(64 bit) Octa-Core processor coupled with LPDDR4X RAM and an expansive 128GB internal storage.

Besides, the F1 goes maximum in the battery aspect as it is fueled by a 5150mAh massive battery with 18W fast charging support and NFC. Despite the big battery, the device is just 8.8mm in thickness.

In terms of the camera, the F1 offers a 16MP+8MP dual rear camera setup with big aperture F/1.7, giving you the excellent bokeh effect and gorgeous photos even in dim light. The front camera is a 16MP high-resolution selfie camera, which can provide clearer beautiful selfies as well as better video calls. The F1 runs on the latest Android 9.0 Pie out of the box.

Furthermore, UMIDIGI recently launched its own official web store with holiday gifts. Now if you buy any phone from their official web store, you can get a UMIDIGI Uwatch for FREE.

As stated, the UMIDIGI F1 will go on open sale for$199.99 on 7th January 2019. Ahead of that, UMIDIGI is recruiting 10 trial users for the F1. Every trial user can get one for free. You can check out all the details about the F1 and join the giveaway on UMIDIGI’s website from here.

Xiaomi Play sets Guinness World Record for the world’s largest mobile-based dynamic puzzle

By

Jeet

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Dec 24, 2018

Today, Xiaomi unveiled its latest smartphone under the company’s new ‘Play’ lineup — Xioami Mi Play, making it the first smartphone to be powered by MediaTek’s Helio P35 octa-core processor.

Along with the launch of Xiaomi Mi Play, the company has also set a new Guinness World Record using the same smartphone to create the world’s largest dynamic puzzle using smartphones. The company made a Christmas tree of 7.9 meters using around 1,008 smartphones to set the record.

The company says that one of the major difficulties in forming a giant screen/display using multiple mobile devices is to connect those phone’s screens into a matrix and ensuring that all the smartphones are 100 percent in sync. However, the company was able to successfully set the record, beating the previous record of a dynamic mobile-based puzzle, which used 504 phones.

To complete the record, Xiaomi’s CEO Lei Jun put the last piece (Mi Play smartphone) into the puzzle. Later, the same tree-type structure was also made available for the audience. Also, the same structure also doubled-up to provide high-speed internet connectivity to the customers in the shopping mall, which also became the biggest hotspot in Beijing on Christmas Eve, said the company.

Revealing more information about this, Lei Jun said through Weibo post that the company was preparing for this activity since the last two weeks, and the team started making the construction at 4:00 AM and was completed at around 4:00 PM.

As said, the record was set using the Xiaomi’s Mi Play smartphone, which was launched by the company today in China. As we previously reported, the phone comes bundled with an offer that provides free 10GB internet data every month for one year.

The Xiaomi Mi Play features a 5.84-inch waterdrop Full HD+ display and is powered by MediaTek Helio P35 octa-core chipset with IMG GE8320 GPU. It packs 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage but we are expecting other variants to launch in a few months.

For photography, the phone comes with a 12MP 1.25μm primary sensor that is paired with a secondary 2MP sensor for capturing depth details for bokeh images. The front camera is an 8MP sensor with HDR, face recognition, and portrait mode, among others.

Connectivity options on the device include Dual SIM, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and a USB type-C port. For security, it comes with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. It is powered by a 3,000mAh battery which should be sufficient for almost a day.

Sony Xperia XZ4 Compact case images corroborate on previous leaks

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 24, 2018

Sony is rumored to announce the Xperia XZ4 and Xperia Z4 Compact smartphones at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 tech expo that will be organized at Barcelona, Spain in February next year. The Xperia XZ4 will be arriving as the successor for the Xperia XZ3 handset that was announced in September. The Xperia XZ4 Compact is expected to arrive as the successor for the Xperia XZ2 Compact that was launched in February as the company did not launch the Xperia XZ3 Compact alongside the XZ3 handset. Popular tipster @OnLeaks had already shared the renders of the Xperia XZ4 Compact earlier this month to reveal what to expect from its design. Case images of the same smartphone have surfaced on SlashLeaks to corroborate on its renders.

The Xperia XZ4 Compact case images show that the handset will be sporting a tall aspect ratio. The right edge of the phone has cutouts for the volume up and down buttons. Below volume buttons is the power embedded that is rumored to be embedded with a fingerprint scanner.

There are cutouts for microphone and 3.5mm audio jack on the top edge of the Xperia XZ4 Compact’s case. The bottom edge of the case has a cutout for USB-C port. The backside of the phone is barren, and its top-left corner features a single camera and an LED flash.

According to the information that was leaked by @OnLeaks earlier this month, the handset will be measuring 139.9 x 66.5 x 9.3m. The handset is quite thicker most of the flagship smartphones as well as many of the mid-range phones available in the market. However, it is slimmer than the Xperia XZ2 Compact that measured 12.1mm in thickness.

The XZ4 Compact is rumored to house a 5-inch display that will carry support for full HD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. The renders of the smartphone revealed that it will be featuring very thick bezels on the upper and lower sides of its display. The rear shell of the phone could be made out of glass. The handset is also expected to feature dual front-facing speakers.

Read More: Mid-Range Sony Xperia XA3 Variants certified before a possible CES 2019 Launch

Since the Xperia XZ4 Compact is expected to be packed with flagship specs, it may feature the Snapdragon 855 SoC that will be powering the Xperia XZ4 smartphone. The SOC of the phone could be coupled with 4 GB of RM and it may come loaded with Android 9 Pie OS. The rumor mill is expected to leak more information on the XZ4 Compact in the coming weeks.

(via)

Lenovo Thinkplus Pods One wireless earphones announced in China

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 24, 2018

Lenovo has launched the all new Thinkplus Pods One wireless earbuds in China. The Bluetooth 5.0 enabled wireless earphones has been introduced with a price tag of 299 Yuan (~$43).

The Lenovo Thinkplus Pods One is an IPX5 rated product which brings it resistant to water contact to some extent. It should be sufficient to protect it from getting damaged because of sweat and water splashes. To ensure that the earbuds remain seated inside the ears, they are equipped with hooks. Hence, the earbuds can remain intact during exercise or running.

If the default earplugs do not fit properly, users make can make use of the different sized ones that come along with it. Lenovo has included 100mAh battery inside the Thinkplus Pods One wireless earphones. What’s been confirmed by the company is that the Lenovo Thinkplus Pods One can offer 10 hours of battery life.

Read More: Lenovo Z5s sold out within 60 seconds in first sale

Buyers of Lenovo Thinkplus Pods One wireless earbuds can choose from two color choices such as black with red accents and red with black accents. The earbuds are listed on Lenovo Mall in China with a price tag of 299 Yuan (~$43). There is no confirmation on the international availability.

(source|via)

Lenovo Z5s vs Nokia X7 vs Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M2): Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Dec 24, 2018

Affordable smartphones are becoming every day more exciting thanks to innovative features, improved performances, and exclusive above-average specifications. Lenovo Z5s, Nokia X7 (also known as Nokia 8.1 in the European market) and Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 are among the most impressive mid-rangers at the end of 2018 and at least one of them may soon become one of the most important best-sellers in the smartphone market. That is why we think a comparison between them could be very useful for people searching for a new affordable device.

Lenovo Z5s vs Nokia X7 vs Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M2)

	Lenovo Z5s	Nokia X7	Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	156.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm, 172 grams	154.8 x 75.8 x 8 mm, 180 grams	157.9 x 75.5 x 8.5 mm, 175 grams
DISPLAY	6.3 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 409 ppi, LTPS IPS LCD	6.18 inches, 1080 x 2280p (Full HD+), 408 ppi, IPS LCD	6.26 inches, 1080 x 2280p (Full HD+), 403 ppi, IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, octa-core 2.2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, octa-core 2.2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, octa-core 2.2 GHz
MEMORY	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD dedicated slot
SOFTWARE	Android 9 Pie, ZUI 10	Android 9 Pie, Android One	Android 9 Pie
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS
CAMERA	Triple 16 + 8 + 5 MP f/1.8, f/2.4 and f/2.4 16 MP f/2.0 front camera	Dual 13 + 2 MP f/1.8 20 MP f/2.0 front camera	Dual 12 + 5 MP f/1.8 and f/2.4 13 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	3350 mAh, fast charging	3500 mAh	5000 mAh
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot

Design

Noone of these handsets has a midrange-class design and all of them have a premium look thanks to their outstanding glass backs. I personally prefer the Lenovo Z5s due to its higher screen-to-body ratio, the availability in gradient color variants and its smaller waterdrop notch, but Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 is not bad as well with its stunning reflective back. Nokia X7 does not match my tastes because of its anonymous look and a too big notch.

Display

We told you several times that if you want a very good display, then you should opt for a flagship. On midrange devices, you will rarely find a high-end display, and the same is for these three devices. Lenovo Z5s is slightly superior in my opinion because it has a slightly bigger screen and the LTPS technology, but the differences are marginal and you should not care a lot about it. Instead, it is better to consider other important specs such as performance and battery life.

Specs & Software

For a simple mid-ranger, these smartphones deliver awesome performances thanks to their great hardware components. Nokia X7 and Lenovo Z5s are the ones with the best performance as they are equipped with an octa-core Snapdragon 710 SoC by Qualcomm, while Zenfone Max Pro M2 comes with a lower-end Snapdragon 660. Nokia X7 should be slightly better thanks to Android One, a stock and lightweight version of the operating system which gets also updated in a faster and constant way. Also note that Lenovo Z5s and Nokia X7 come with Android Pie out of the box, while Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 is still based on Android Oreo.

Camera

Given that it was announced a few days ago, we still had no chance to test the cameras of Lenovo Z5s. But we believe that its triple camera should provide more interesting shots thanks to the bright aperture, a secondary sensor for 2x optical zoom and a third depth sensor. On the other hand, Nokia X7 is amazing too with its dual camera sporting Carl Zeiss lens and OIS. It will be a hard fight between these two devices, while Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 is definitely worse with an average 12 MP dual camera.

Battery

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 is the king of battery and it is among the best Android phones for battery life. It has a huge 5000 mAh unit and it can last up to two full days even with intensive use. Lenovo Z5s and Nokia X7 are not phones focused on battery, but they provide a sufficient battery life in every scenario.

Price

Nokia X7 is the only handset which comes with a much higher price tag than its rivals. It was recently launched in the global market for about €400, while you can get Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 and Lenovo Z5s in China for about €200. I would personally choose the Lenovo Z5s due to its amazing performance, great cameras, and stunning design, as well as its quality-price ratio. But Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 is the perfect phone for everyone who is searching for a phone with a great battery life, which is, in my opinion, the most important thing in midrange phones.

Read More: Lenovo Z5s launched with waterdrop notch screen, triple cameras, Snapdragon 710 and 1,398 Yuan (~$202) pricing

Lenovo Z5s vs Nokia X7 vs Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2: PROs and CONS

Lenovo Z5s

PROs

Great performance
Affordable price
Triple camera
Beautiful design

CONS

Smaller battery

Nokia X7

PROs

Compact
Good performance
Android One
Wide availability

CONS

Higher price

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2

PROs

Huge battery
Affordable price
Micro SD dedicated slot
Gorilla Glass 6

CONS

Worse hardware and cameras

Samsung Galaxy M30 Geekbench listing reveal key specs

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 24, 2018

Samsung will be introducing the all new Galaxy M lineup of smartphones. Rumors surrounding it have suggested that the Galaxy M phones will be aimed towards developing markets. The leaked specs of the Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20v have already surfaced in recent reports. Some information on the Galaxy M30 phone that is expected to be packed with better specs than the M10 and M20 models have also appeared in the recent past. Today, the Galaxy M30 smartphone has surfaced on Geekbench to confirm on the processor that will be powering it.

The Samsung SM-M305F model number belongs to the upcoming Galaxy M30 smartphone. Its Geekbench appearance has revealed that it will be fueled by Exynos 7885 chipset and 4 GB of RAM. The handset is loaded with Android 8.1 Oreo OS. In the single-core and multi-core benchmarking tests of Geekbench, the SM-M305F Galaxy M30 has respectively scored 1327 and 4197 points.

Rumors surrounding the Galaxy M30 have revealed that it could be hitting the market in 64 GB and 128 GB storage versions. Hence, there is a possibility that the 4 GB RAM variant of the M30 could be equipped with 64 GB of internal storage. The higher 128 GB model of the phone may include 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy A10 with in-display fingerprint scanner and Snapdragon 845 tipped

The Samsung Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 are expected to go official in the first quarter of 2019. The Galaxy M20 is tipped to feature Infinity-U display which involves presence of a small u-shaped notch on the screen for the front-facing camera. There is a possibility that the Galaxy M30 may sport the same design as the Galaxy M20 handset. All the three rumored Galaxy M phones are expected to arrive in the market in colors like Dark Grey and Blue.

Other details of the Galaxy M30 are under the wraps. Samsung fans will have to wait for further leaks to confirm on its specs and features. Probably, the Galaxy M30 may get announced after the launch of the Galaxy M10 and M20 smartphones.

(via)

Honor V20 case renders reveals the phone’s design with triple rear cameras

By

Jeet

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Dec 24, 2018

Honor is all set to launch its new smartphone — Honor V20, which is scheduled to take place on 26th December. While most of the phone’s details have already leaked online, new images of the phone’s case renders have surfaced online, confirming the phone’s design.

The phone’s case reveals that there will be a volume rocker key and a power button on the right side while there’s nothing on the left side. On the back, there will be triple camera sensors, positioned in horizontally in the top-left corner. There’s also a fingerprint sensor on the back panel for added security.

As per the previous reports, the phone will come with a “Magic Eye Full Screen” technology, which features a 4.5mm hole in the display for the front-facing camera, touted as the industry’s smallest hole. The phone is rumored to feature a 6.4-inch display with support for full HD+ resolution of 2310 x 1080 pixels.

For photography, the handset will have a triple camera setup with 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 as its main sensor. The company has already shared the official camera samples of the V20 smartphone. The phone is also tipped to come equipped with a ToF (Time of Flight) 3D camera sensor for precise creation of 3D models of objects and people for AR.

On the front side, the phone could be featuring a 25-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling. Under the hood, the device will be powered by the company’s own Kirin 980 octa-core chipset manufactured using 7nm process.

It will be equipped with Link Turbo feature that offers enhanced and uninterrupted download speeds by combining LTE and Wi-Fi networks to work simultaneously. The phone is expected to be powered by a 4,000mAh battery with 22.5W fast charging support.

As for the memory configuration, the phone will come in three variants — 6GB RAM with 64GB internal storage, 6GB RAM with 128GB internal storage, and 8GB RAM with 256GB internal storage, as revealed by the AnTuTu benchmark listing.

Along with the launch of Honor V20 in China on 26th December, the company will also launch the Honor YOYO Smart Speaker. The company has also scheduled a launch event on 22nd January for the launch of Honor View 20, the international model of the Honor V20.

(Via)

Xiaomi India to announce new POCOPHONE tomorrow

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 24, 2018

Xiaomi’s POCOPHONE F1 made a big splash this year when it launched. The phone packs flagship specs and matches it with a mid-range price tag. Tomorrow, Xiaomi India will announce a new POCOPHONE just four months after the first one launched.

A tweet posted by the country’s general manager, C. Manmohan, revealed that a new Pocophone is coming. The official POCO India Twitter account tweeted later that the new POCOPHONE will launch tomorrow.

Last week's been crazy! #POCOF1 has won awards & appreciation one after the other and #Christmas seems to have come early! @MKBHD @TheMrPhone @91mobiles @AndroidAuth

But, that's not all.
I have a surprise for all of you. A #NewPOCO is coming. Can you guess when? 🍾

— C Manmohan (@cmanmohan) December 24, 2018

The #NewPOCO is getting us all excited!

Jingle bells are rolling. The BIG #Christmas reveal happens tomorrow! Stay tuned for more. #MasterOfSpeed

— POCO India (@IndiaPOCO) December 24, 2018

It is not yet confirmed if tomorrow’s launch is for the POCOPHONE F2 but going by the lack of fanfare, it doesn’t seem like it. One rumor that seems to be gaining ground says the launch is for kevlar versions for the 6GB + 64GB and 6GB + 128GB versions.

Another exclusive leak by me and @mysmartprice! POCO/ Pocophone F1 6GB+64GB & 6GB+128GB Storage variants will soon be available in Kevlar Back (which was earlier exclusive to 8GB variant). European markets will receive these first and Indian launch will be soon as well. pic.twitter.com/f8wtsT1agu

— Ishan Agarwal (@ishanagarwal24) November 29, 2018

The news of a Kevlar version for these models first surfaced about three weeks ago via a leak by Ishan Agarwal. The kevlar version is exclusive to the 8GB RAM + 256GB version and is sold as the POCO F1 Armored Edition. Now it seems Xiaomi is bringing the stronger back cover to the 64GB and 128GB models.

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Lenovo Z5s sold out within 60 seconds in first sale

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 24, 2018

The Lenovo Z5s smartphone was announced in China on Dec. 18. As promised, the smartphone went on sale for the first time today at 10 AM in the home market. The handset has met with an outstanding first sale reception since all its units were sold in less 60 seconds.

The base model of the Lenovo Z5 has 4 GB of RAM and inbuilt storage of 64 GB. It carries a price tag of 1,398 Yuan (~$202). The second variant has 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of native storage. It costs 1,598 Yuan (~$232).

The highest model of the Lenovo Z5s has 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of native storage. It is priced at 1,898 Yuan (~$275) price tag. There is a custom variant called Lenovo Z5s Zhu Yilong Custom Edition costs 1,998 Yuan (~$289).

The Lenovo Z5s features a 6.3-inch display that carries support for 19.5:9 aspect ratio and full HD+ resolution. It The smartphone also features P2i anti-splash coating on its body. The Lenovo Z5s sports a gradient color glass rear and a powerful 6000-series aluminum frame.

Read More: Lenovo S5 Pro GT vs Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M2) vs Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite: Specs Comparison

The Snapdragon 710 chipset is present under the hood of the Lenovo Z5s. The back panel of the phone features a vertical triple camera setup that includes 16-megapixel wide-angle lens, 8-megapixel telephoto lens and 5-megapixel depth sensor. To keep the lights on, Lenovo has included a 3,300mAh battery inside the phone. The handset is running ZUI 10 based Android 9.0 Pie OS.

In related news, Lenovo had also announced the Lenovo Z5 Pro GT handset as the world’s first smartphone with Snapdragon 855v chipset and 12 GB of RAM. It is the advanced version of the Lenovo Z5 Pro slider phone that was announced in October. The Lenovo Z5 Pro GT also feature 512 GB of storage. The starting model of the phone carries a price tag of 2,698 Yuan (~$391). The pre-orders of the Z5 Pro GT will begin on Jan. 15 and the official sales will start on Jan. 24.

OnePlus caught promoting the OnePlus 6T with the bezels removed

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 24, 2018

Lenovo first gained notoriety with the Lenovo Z5 when several photos and renders of the device shared ended up not being same when the device was launched. It came with thicker bezels whereas the renders appear to show the device with next to no bezels. Apparently, OnePlus has been caught in a similar controversy but this time for sharing a photo of the already released OnePlus 6T with smaller bezels.

A Twitter user named Dro shared a post about an Instagram ad for the OnePlus 6T after he spotted something that just wasn’t normal about the promotional ad. The ad appears to show the company generously reduced the black color around the camera notch and removed the chin totally. The outcome of the Ad makes it look like it is completely bezel-less when it’s really not. One of the company’s marketing departments personnel might have thought it would be alright giving people a wrong impression about the OnePlus 6T bezel size.

Hey @OnePlus that chin ain’t that small 🤔 pic.twitter.com/lHtGOsznLt

— Pedro ⌁ (@pedropeguerojr) December 21, 2018

Apart from the Instagram ad, OnePlus still posted another deceptive ad on YouTube which at the start of the video and 43-second mark shows the phone without a chin. Again, this deceptive and sure gives the impression that there’s no chin. But the dispute here is whether it was by accident or on purpose. It is likely on purpose but since the OnePlus 6T is already out in the open, this might not generate any sustained controversy.

(source)

Xiaomi Mi Play announced: packs 5.84” FHD+ screen, new Helio P35 SoC and more for $160

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Dec 24, 2018

After barely two weeks of teasers and leaks, Xiaomi finally took the wraps off its latest phone, the Mi Play, at an event today. The Mi Play seems to be the first of a new series for Xiaomi. It is the Mi line’s version of the Redmi series, so phones released under this category will be less powerful and less expensive than the other phones in the Mi series.

Mi Play Design

The Mi Play has a more elaborate design that makes it stand out from the Redmi series. So rather than the metal/plastic body of the Redmi series, you get Gorilla Glass on both sides of the Mi Play. The finish on the back is also eye-catching and not dull like that of the Redmi line.

Specs

The Xiaomi Mi Play has a 5.84-inch screen with a water-drop notch, a first for Xiaomi. Its greatly reduced bezels give it a form factor that is just a tiny bit bigger than the Mi 6 which has a 5.15-inch display. The Mi Play has a 1080 x 2280 resolution (FHD+) with a 1500:1 contrast ratio, 432 PPI, and an eye protection mode.

The processor powering the phone was a mystery but today we finally get to know that it is powered by a brand new chipset from MediaTek called the Helio P35.

The Helio P35 is a 12nm octa-core chipset clocked at 2.3GHz. It has a feature called CPU/GPU dual-turbo technology and its AnTuTu score places its performance above that of the Snapdragon 625. If you asked us, we would say the Helio P35 is MediaTek’s answer to Qualcomm’s 14nm Snapdragon 632 processor. The processor has an IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU clocked at 680MHz.

The Helio P35 chipset is paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. This is the only storage configuration available but we won’t be surprised if Xiaomi announced a new variant in a few months.

Dual cameras are practically standard on devices now and it is no surprise that the Mi Play also joins the trend. It has a 12MP 1.25μm primary sensor that is paired with a secondary 2MP sensor for capturing depth details for bokeh images. Xiaomi says it has HDR, EIS, and a bunch of AI features. The front camera is an 8MP sensor with HDR, face recognition, and portrait mode and more. Below are some camera samples.

[envira-gallery id=”229097″]

The Mi Play packs a 3,000mAh battery which should be sufficient for almost a day. There is no fast charging, so you are left with 5V/2A charging. There is also a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.

The phone has dual-SIM support (nano only), dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and a MicroUSB port. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have an audio jack.

Mi Play Price and Availability

The Xiaomi Mi Play is only available in one configuration (4GB + 64GB). It will be available in three colors – Twilight Gold, Fantasy Blue, and Black. On the official online store, only the blue and black variants are available.

The Mi Play is priced at ¥1099 which roughly converts to $160. It is not expensive but Xiaomi itself has multiple devices at that price range which have better specs. However, Xiaomi is also throwing in 10GB of free high-speed data for 12 months which is worth between ¥828 (~$120) and ¥1296 (~$188) per year depending on the network operator. If you were to subtract the cost of the data from the cost of the phone, then you are practically getting the device for free.

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Pre-Order UMIDIGI One Max Smartphone For Just $179.99 And Get 50% Off On A3 Pro Smartphone On Banggood

By

Vinay Patel

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Dec 24, 2018

UMIDIGI took the wraps off the One Max smartphone this year in November. As expected, the phone became an instant hit among those who fancy watching their favorite movies and playing popular games on a big-screen mobile device.
The One Max sports an extra large 6.3-inch IPS, LCD, HD+ (1520 x 720 pixels) screen with an eye-catching waterdrop display. The phone packs a powerful MTK, Helio P23 processor with an equally competent ARM Mali G71 MP2 700MHz GPU, under the hood.

Furthermore, the UMIDIGI One Max comes with 4GB of RAM and offers a hearty 128GB of onboard storage capacity that can be expanded up to 256GB via microSD card. On the photography front, it houses a 12MP+5MP dual camera setup on the back and a 16MP front shooter for selfies.

The One Max runs Android 8.1 Oreo OS and is backed by a robust 4150mAh lithium battery that supports 18W fast charging. On top of that, it features a slew of useful sensors like P-sensor, L-sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, and a geomagnetic sensor.
The UMIDIGI One Max smartphone has gone up for pre-order bearing a heavily discounted price tag of just $179.99 on Banggood. This is a noteworthy 25 percent reduction in the phone’s original asking price of $239.99. But there’s more for you to cheer about.

Those who purchase the One Max will be eligible to get a whopping 50% off on the UMIDIGI A3 Pro smartphone that normally sells for $139.99. Thanks to the aforesaid discount, you can now pre-order the A3 Pro for a lowered price of just $89.99. You can choose between space gray and gold color versions.

You can click here to visit the promotion page and grab the discount. With 193 pieces of the twilight and carbon fiber color versions of the UMIDIGI One Max smartphone remaining, the promotion is slated to end on December 28th.

Get 50% Off On UMIDIGI One Max Smartphone

Get Utorch-Branded Lighting Accessories For Unbelievably Low Prices On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Dec 24, 2018

While the market is brimming with all sorts of lighting fixtures that can enhance the overall ambiance of a room, these devices do not come cheap.

Utorch might be a name that would sound familiar when it comes to high-end lighting equipment. The popular brand has now teamed up with one of China’s best online electronics online stores, GearBest to offer highly useful lighting accessories for unbeatable prices.

Utorch S08 6 LEDs Night Light

Designed to switch on automatically when any sort of movement is detected within 3m and auto off after 15 to 20 seconds, the Utorch S08 is an irresistible motion-activated LED night light. It sports a simplistic, yet appealing design that will grace any corner of your house or office.

This night light is ideal for the hallway, closet, stairs, bedroom, and various other places. It comes in two colors including white and silver. While the white color version of the S08 usually sells for $4.51, you can now buy it for only $3.49 on GearBest.

While this 23 percent discount is valid for the while color version of the Utorch S08, you can get the silver color version of the night lamp for a reduced price of just $3.69 on GearBest. This is a noteworthy 18 percent reduction on its original asking price of $4.51.

On the downside, there were only 493 pieces of the silver and 440 pieces of the white color version of the Utorch S08 remaining for this promo at the time of writing. You can visit this link to avail the discount before the promo ends in three days.

Utorch S200 Touch Control Rechargeable Camping Night Light

The Utorch S200 is a multi-purpose lamp that has various applications. It comes in handy as an eye-protection table lamp, breastfeeding light, bedside lamp, portable outdoor light, and a nightlight.

Moreover, the IP65 rated S200 can be used as an outdoor lamp. It features an integrated loop that allows you to hang it on a backpack, tree or tent. It is a great choice for camping, family adventure, hiking, and several other adventurous activity activities.

The Utorch S200 night light would normally set you back a pretty penny on both online and offline stores, but you can now buy it for just $12.99 on GearBest. This is a 19 percent drop in the device’s original asking price of $15.94.

The aforesaid discount will be valid for the remaining 197 pieces of the white color version of the Utorch S200 night light. Alternatively, you can buy the S300, and S400 for dropped prices of $13.99 and $16.99, respectively.

You can visit this link to buy the Utorch S200 for the slashed price before the promotion sale comes to an end today.

Utorch 3m 30-LED Decoration String Light

These copper lights are ideal for augmenting any setting like a social gathering, celebration, Christmas, wedding, birthday party etc. Aside from that, it can be used for decorating the outdoor area of your house.

All you need to do is to place them on walls, windows, ceiling, doors, trees, grass or pillars. These extremely bright LED lamp bead feature a 5m light string with 50 LEDs for low light glare. Moreover, it has an easily bendable copper wire that enables you to create any shape.

The Utorch 3m 30-LED decoration string light comes in green and warm white color versions that carry a $3 price tag, but you can now buy the above-mentioned color versions for a reduced price of just $1.69 on GearBest. Likewise, you can the slightly longer 5m decoration string light for a lowered price of just $1.99.

You can follow this link to check out more details about these super attractive copper lights and grab the big discount.

There were 500 pieces of the warm white and 499 pieces of the green color versions remaining for this promo, which is slated to end in 3 days.

Check Out GearBest’s 2018 New Year Lighting Sale

Check Out GearBest’s Exclusive Brand Sale

ASUS ZenFone design patent with pop-up selfie camera and full screen

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 24, 2018

Earlier this year, ASUS had launched the ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 5Z with notched displays to provide users with larger screen space. Few months ago, multiple prototypes of the ZenFone 6 had surfaced to reveal that the Taiwanese company is considered different kinds of in-screen camera display hole designs for it. Lets Go Digital has today revealed that the company has patented new designs for smartphones to provide higher screen space to its users.

In August, ASUS had filed several design patens with European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). On Dec. 22 and Dec. 23, those patents were published to reveal the various smartphone designs that the company may use for its upcoming smartphones.

ASUS smartphone with a pop-up selfie camera is the newest design that the company has patented. The design patent reveals a smartphone with full screen design and a pop-up selfie snapper that is hidden inside the top edge of the device like the Vivo NEX smartphone. A speaker can be seen on the super-slim top bezel of the smartphone.

For the pop-up camera, the Taiwanese company has considered three different formats which includes a thin module for the front camera, a second one that is a bit wide which can accommodate more than one selfie camera and a third model featuring a wider module which can possibly accommodate multiple and advanced sensors for 3D face detection.

Read More: Lenovo S5 Pro GT vs Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M2) vs Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite: Specs Comparison

The second full screen design found in the patent documents is an in-screen camera hole as seen on recent smartphones such as Samsung Galaxy A8s and Huawei Nova 4. As it can be seen in the illustrations below, the new design features a small hole at the top-left corner of the display for the front-facing camera. The speaker is again placed on the ultra-thin upper bezel of the smartphone.

Popular YouTuber C4ETech had shared some prototype images in October which showed different placements for the front-facing camera. One of the images shared below suggested that the ZenFone 6 may sport a display similar to Galaxy A8s and Nova 4 phones. There were some other designs including the one shown in the below video:

ASUS is expected to announce the ZenFone 6 series at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019 tech trade show in February this year. Probably, the ZenFone 6 and the successor of the ZenFone 5Z may sport any of the above shown display design.

Buy LeEco Le 2 X520 Smartphone For Just $89.99 On Banggood

By

Vinay Patel

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Dec 24, 2018

LeEco launched the Le 2 X520 back in July 2016, but much to the delight of the Chinese handset maker, the Le 2 X520 continues to garner popularity among smartphone lovers.
Taking its universality into consideration and in order to ensure even cost-conscious buyers can get their hands on the well-received smartphone, LeEco is now offering the Le 2 X520 for a heavily discounted price of $89.99 on Banggood. Note that the phone usually carries a $139.99 price tag.

This 36 percent discount will be valid for both grey and rose gold color version of the 4G smartphone for a limited period of time. An absolute bargain at this price, the Le 2 X520 features a 5.5-inch Capacitive IPS touchscreen bonding In-cell display with 1920×1080 pixels resolution.

The phone packs a powerful Snapdragon 652 1.8Ghz Octa-Core processor with an Adreno 510 GPU, under the hood. This model comes with 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM and offers 64GB of non-expandable onboard storage space.
The LeEco Le 2 X520 runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS and draws its juices from a built-in 3000mAh Le quick charge battery. On the photography front, the phone houses a 16.0MP rear-mounted camera with f/2.0 aperture, two-tone flash, back-illuminated CMOS and supports PDAF. Upfront, there’s an 8.0MP front shooter with ƒ/2.2 aperture, and 76-degree wide angle for selfies.

There’s a fingerprint sensor placed on the back along with a slew of other useful sensors including gravity, light, distance, gyro, and hall. You can head straight to this link to check out the full specification and avail the discount.

With only 199 pieces of the grey and rose gold color versions remaining, the promotion sale is slated to end on December 28th.

Get 36% Off On LeEco Le 2 X520 Smartphone

Check Out Banggood’s Xmas Brands Deals For Over 50% Off

Ulefone Armor 6 rugged smartphone with 6.2-inch FHD+ display and Helio P60 SoC officially launched

By

Jeet

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Dec 24, 2018

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Ulefone has today officially released its latest smartphone — Ulefone Armor 6, which comes with a rugged yet slim body. The phone is designed in such a way that it offers a comfortable grip. The rugged design of the phone ensures extreme protection when it comes to drops, slams, and crashes.

The phone comes with an IP68 rating that ensures dust-proofing and waterproofing. The company claims that the handset can survive temperatures from -20℃ to 60℃, so you can take it up on that mountain hike or down to the beach without any worries. It comes with MIL-STD-810G grade protection and also has a customized UV detector.

The Ulefone Armor 6 comes with a 6.2-inch Full-HD+ display with 2246 x 1080 pixels screen resolution. Under the hood, the device is powered by MediaTek Helio P60 12nm octa-core processor, which is the company’s first processor powered by artificial intelligence.

It packs 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. As for the photography, there’s a dual rear camera setup consisting of a 21-megapixel RGB primary sensor and a 13-megapixel monochrome secondary sensor. On the front side, there’s a 13-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling. The phone’s camera comes with Arcsoft algorithm and AI-based features.

Connectivity options on the Ulefone Armor 6 include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS, and NFC. Running on Android 8.1 Oreo operating system, the device is powered by 5,000mAh battery, which the company says could last for about two days. The device also supports 18W fast charging as well as Qi wireless charging.

Top-Branded Smart Watches Go Up For Sale Carrying Slashed Prices On Leading Online Stores

By

Vinay Patel

-

Dec 24, 2018

Looking for a cost-effective smartwatch that offers an impressive array of features without emptying your pocket? We got good news for you.
Leading online stores like GearBest, Banggood, GeekBuying, and Giztop are giving smartwatch enthusiasts a chance to get their hands on top-branded smartwatches for considerably lowered prices. So without further ado, let’s head straight to the details.

Huawei Honor Watch Magic Smart Watch

Sporting an eye-catching 1.2 inch AMOLED touchscreen display, the Honor Watch Magic is an irresistible smartwatch. It features a 5ATM waterproof rating and offers 16MB of RAM coupled with 128MB of onboard storage for you to save your favorite data.

The black color version of Honor Watch Magic would normally set you back a pretty penny on both online as well as offline sores, but you can now buy it for only $149.99 on GearBest. This is a noteworthy 24 percent reduction in the device’s original selling price of $197.19.
Alternatively, you can go for the silver-tinted Honor Watch Magic smartwatch that usually carries a $206.54 price tag. Much to the delight of cost-conscious buyers, this silver color version of the watch has now gone up for sale carrying a dropped price sticker of just $159.99 on GearBest.

You can follow this link to avail the discount before the promotion comes to an end.

Zeblaze VIBE 3 Smart Watch

The VIBE 3 is loaded with nearly all exceptional features that we usually associate with a high-end smartwatch. For instance, it sports a luminous dial that enables the wearer to see the time even in dark surrounding.

Backed by a robust 610mAh CR2450 button battery, this Zeblaze branded smartwatch lets its wearer share his/her sports progress with friends regardless of the time and the wearer’s location. The watch has a standby time of 990 days or about 33 months so that you can use it for a longer duration without having to charge it every now and then.
The Zeblaze VIBE 3 usually sells for $29.49, but you can now buy it for just $22.99 on GearBest. This 22 percent discount is valid for the black color version of the watch. You can even go for the wine red and blue color versions that will set you back $30.81 and $31.81, respectively.

You can follow this link to avail the discount before this promo ends and check out more details about the VIBE 3 smartwatch.

LEMFO LES1 Watch

The LEMFO LES1 strikes a perfect balance between the harmony of style and intelligence. It is housed in an appealing metal frame that integrates cultivated beauty and reliable durability. It ships with 1GB of RAM and offers a hearty 16GB of onboard storage capacity along with various other useful features that made it an instant hit among smartwatch lovers.

Taking its popularity into consideration, LEMFO is now offering the feature-laden LES1 watch for a lowered price of only $97.99 on Banggood. It is worth noting that the device carries a relatively steeper $149.99 price tag without the aforesaid discount.
This 35 percent discount will be valid for the black color version of the LEMFO LES1 watch for a limited period of time only. You can follow this link to grab the discount before the promo ends.

Xiaomi Huami Amazfit Bip Lite Version (English Version)

The latest Huami Amazfit Bip Lite Version does not feature a round screen like the Amazfit pace but resorts to using a 1.28-inch square-shaped capacitive touchscreen with HD resolution of 176 x 176 pixels. Moreover, it comes with Corning Gorilla glass on top for added protection.

While the Huami Amazfit Bip Lite Version would normally sell for $125.99, Xiaomi is now offering this feature-rich smartwatch for just $71.99 on GeekBuying. This 43 percent discount will be valid for the black-tinted English version of the smartwatch.
You can visit this link to check out the full specification of the Xiaomi Huami Amazfit Bip Lite Version smartwatch and buy it without breaking the bank. Note that the promo will only be valid for 7 days.

Huami Amazfit Verge Smart Watch

The well-received Huami Amazfit Verge smartwatch has gone up for sale carrying a $139 price tag on Giztop. The watch comes with a 1.3-inch circular display with 360 x 360-pixel resolution. On top, it features Gorilla Glass 3 with a coating that offers extra protection to the screen and helps to avoid fingerprint smudges.
The Huami Amazfit Verge is currently up for grabs in gray, dark blue, and white color versions. It packs a powerful dual-core 1.2GHz processor and offers 512MB RAM and 4GB of internal storage capacity.

You can follow this link to check out more details about the Huami Amazfit Verge and buy for an unbeatable price on Giztop.